Labeling machine



c. HOLM LABELING MACHINE April 1.1, 195o 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 5,1946 `April 11, 195o C, H'OLM 2,503,872

LABELING MACHINE April 1v1, 1950 c. HQLM LABELING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed June 5, 1946 faul April l1, 1950 4 g, HQLM 2,503,872

LABELING MACHINE Filed June 5, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Apr. l1,1950 LABELING MACHINE Carl IiIolm, Worcester, Mass., assignor toEconomic Machinery Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application June 5, 1946, Serial No. 674,469

(Cl. 21S- 55) 37 Claims.

This invention pertains to the art of label pasting and a'ixing, andrelates more particularly to a novel label-applying machine of the kindwherein labels, arranged in a magazine, are removed one by one by anadhesively coated picker. The machine herein described by way ofexample, as illustrative of the nov-el principles involved, is of thesemi-automatic type, but it may be understood that in its broaderaspects at least, the invention is applicable to machines of the fullautomatic type.

The coating of labels with adhesive and the proper application of thecoated label to the article is an operation which is attended with manypractical diculties, and in the effort to avoid these difficultiesdesigners of such machines have heretofore commonly resorted tomultiplication of parts, complexity of operation, and in many instancesto structures of large overall dimensions, so that such machines areexpensive, require highly skilled attendants and service, and occupymore space than is sometimes available.

Customarily a picker of the adhesive type consists of two or morelabel-engaging parts which are spaced or at least separable to permit atransfer element or presser to enter between them in applying the labelto the article designed to receive it. Such a divided picker, with itsassociated transfer or presser element, can not be depended upon todeliver the label accurately to the article to be labeled; it is notcapable of handling very small labels; and it tends to accumulate gum toan extent such that it must be cleaned at frequent intervals to preventthe gum from dripping. While pneumatic pickers for removing the labelsfrom the magazine, are effective, such pickers are more complicated thanthose of the adhesive type, and necessitate the application of gumdirectly to the label while the latter is adherent to the picker,requiring the employment of gum-applying means of elaborate type.

In accordancel with the present invention, most of the difficultiesattendant upon the use of previous types of picker are avoided; accuracyof label positioning is assured; labels of all sizes may be handled withsubstantially equal facility and speed; the gum is applied uniformly andwithout waste to the surface of the label; and the mechanism employed isof simpl-e character. In the attainment of these advantages an adhesivetype picker is employed which is of unitary character (that is to say,it is not divided to permit the passage of a transfer element betweenits several parts) and which is of substantially the same shape andexternal dimensions as the label to be applied; the label is transferredfrom the picker to a transfer device, applier or carrier which carriesthe label to and deposits it upon the article to be labeled, and duringthe transfer from the picker to the applier or carrier, the picker is somoved relativ-ely to the label asto cause the picker to slide while incontact with the adhesive coating on the label so as to spread thecoating uniformly over the label.

Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a machine ofthe class described (and having the novel characteristics just abovepointed out) which is simple in construction and in operation, com-pactin design, occupies a minimum amount of space and has relatively fewparts; which may be manufactured at relatively low cost as compared withmost prior machines of this type; which is substantial and durable; andwhich does not require highly skilled attendants or service. A furtherobject is to provide simple means to insure the uniform spreading of theadhesive over the surface of the label without danger of 'waste ofadhesive, or the smearing of adjacent parts. A further object is toprovide means operative to prevent removal of labels from the magazinein the event that there is no article in position to receive a label oruntil, in starting the machine, the picker has been adequately suppliedwith adhesive. Other and further objects and advantages of the inventionwill be pointed out in the following more detailed description and byreference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryelevation, partly in vertical section, and with parts omitted and brokenaway, the machine being viewed from its right-hand side, and showing theparts in the relative positions which they occuy while the label isbeing pressed onto the article being labeled;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, to larger scale, illustrating a preferredform of picker;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in vertical section andomitting many parts, and showing the machine at that instant in itsoper? ation when the label is rst applied to the article and before thelabel has been pressed into pla-ce;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine, partly invertical section and with many of the parts omitted or broken away;

i Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the camwhich actuates the transferdevice or applier Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cam which actuatesthe device for holding the transfer device or applier firmly in positionduringA the transfer of the label from the picker to the appller;

Fig. 'l is a side elevation of the cam which moves the picker up anddown;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cam which moves the picker from frontto rear;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the cam which actuates the presser pad forrmly pressing the label against the article; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic composite view showing the relative positionsof the several cams when mounted upon the drive shaft, the latter beingshown in section.

Referring to the drawings, the base of the machine is indicated at l,this base constituting a support for a drive motor, a drive clutchcontrol pedal, and such other customary elements as may be desirable,but which are not herein illustrated, since they may be of conventionaltype and form no essential part of the present invention.

The frame of the machine rests upon and is rigidly secured to the basel. As here illustrated by way of example, but without limitation as toexact details, the frame comprises spaced parallel uprights 2 and 3,conveniently castings, hanged for strength, and provided with integralbosses or pads where necessaryT to form bearings or supports for shaftsor other parts. These uprights .2 and 3 are bolted at their lower endsto the base I and are connected at their upper ends by the transfer toprail 4 which is also a casting as herein illustrated.

`An upstanding bracket 5 is fixed at its lower end to the front of thebase .i and is provided at its upper end with a finished vertical face 6(Fig. 1) against which the vertically adjustable stem l of anarticle-supporting cradle 8 is clamped by means of a bolt or bolts 9.

A horizontal, transverse drive shaft l is supported to turn in bearingsin the uprights 2 and 3. A gear Il, near the right-hand end of the shaftlil, is mounted to turn freely on the shaft, and is constantly turnedwhile the machine is .in operation by the motor mounted on the base l.Preferably Ia train of gears transmits motion from the motor to the gearIl, although any suitable transmission means may be employed for drivingthe gear l l from the motor. Since this transmission forms no essentialpart of the invention,

this train of driving gears is not shown. The gear Il may be clutched tothe shaft lil, so las to drive the latter, by means of a clutch l2 ofconventional type, actuated by the foot pedal above referred to and notherein shown.

Crank I3 (Fig. 4) fixed to the left-hand end of the shaft ID, actuatesthe piston rod i4 of a vacuum pump l mounted on the outside of theupright 2. Actuating cams for the various operative elements of themachine are fixed to the shaft llll between the uprights 2 and 3 andwill be more fully described hereinafter.

Parallel rigid guide rods IS and l1 (Figs. 1 and 4), which slopedownwardly and forwardly, are supported at their opposite ends inbrackets carried by the frame. A magazine carriage I8 (Fig. 1) ismounted to slide on these rods. The frame IB of a label magazine M ismounted on this carriage. The magazine may be of any appropriateconstruction, for example, such as is common in the labeling art anddesigned to hold a stack of labels L (Fig. 1) so that the endmostforward label is disposed in a substantially vertical plane and exposedfor removal by the picker.

. In its forward position the magazine is so located that the picker, inits normal travel, will contact and remove the exposed end label fromthe magazine. However, there are times, for example, when iirst startingthe machine or when no article is in position to receive a label, whenthe removal of labels from the magazine should be prevented. To thisend, the magazine is movable rearwardly out of its normal position sothat the picker can not contact the exposed endmost label. Forpositioning the magazine a link 2D (Fig. l) is pivotally secured at itsforward end to the magazine carriage I8 and at its rear end to thenormally horizontal arm 2i of a bell crank lever fulcrummed on a shaft22, said lever having a downwardly and forwardly directed arm 23 towhich is pivotally connected the lower rear end of a link 24. The upperend of this link 24 is pivot/ed at Z5 to one arm 2E of a heli cranklever fulcrumed on a shaft 27, and having a long forwardly directed arm28 provided at its front end with a handle v29.. By swinging the arm `2Supwardly the link 20 is moved rearwardly, thus moving the magazine farenough to the rear to prevent the picker from engaging the endmost labelin the magazine.

The picker is a plate of substantially the same shape and dimensions asthe label to be applied. It is of unitary construction, that is to say,it is not divided into spaced or separa-ble parts. It is designed to beregistered with the endmost label in the magazine and to cover the.entire surface of the label. While the picker plate may, if desired,consist of several parts properly assembled and rigidly united, it ispreferably a single piece of material, for exampe, a single casting. Asillustrated in Fig. 2, this picker plate has a single, uninterrupted,flat gum-receiving face 32 of substantially the same size and shape asthe label. However, in accordance with a modification illustrated inFig. 2a, the adhesive-receiving face of the plate 30 may be divided by aseries of parallel channels 3l so as to provide a corresponding seriesof narrow, parallel adhesive-receiving faces 32a. However, these faces329u are xed relatively to each other, and the body portion of the pateis uninterrupted between its lateral edges.

The plate 30 has a boss 33 at its forward side which is removablyattachable to a horizontal arm 34 (Fig. a) extending laterally from thepicker carriage 35. It is to be understood that this picker plate 3D isinterchangeable with generally similar plates of appropriate size andshape for use with any selected label. The carriage is mounted to slideup and down upon a vertically elongate swinging guide 36. This guide isa flat bar whose upper end is xed to a swivel member 31 mounted to rockon a stub shaft 38 xed to the upright 2. The lower end of this flatguide bar 36 is pivotally attached to the forward end of a link 39(Figs. 3 and 4) whose rear end portion is arranged to slide in a guideboss 40 on the vforward end of a yoke 4i, pivotally connected at itsrear end, at 42, to the upper end of a lever 43. The lower end of thelever 43 is fulcrumed on a pin 44 (Fig. 3) carried by the frame. A `camfollower roll 45, mounted on the lever 43 intermediate its ends, engagesa cam groove 46 (Fig. 8) in a cam disk 4l fixed to the main shaft I0.The rear end of the link 39 has a fixed .head or collar 48, and a coiledspring 49 is interposed between this collar and the boss 4B, the springproviding a yielding connection between the yoke and link.

The picker carriage 35 is disposed at the rear side of the nat guide rod36 so as to slide up and down in contact with said rear surface, but isprovided with anti-friction rolls 58 (Fig. 3) which `engage the frontsurface of the guide rod 36 and which keep the carriage operativelyassociated with the rod.

A link is pivotally secured at its upper end. to the picker carriage 35and at its lower end to the forward end of a lever 52. This lever 52(Fig. 3) is fulcrumed at its rear end upon a pin 53 carried by the frameand has a cam follower roll 54 intermediate its ends which is receivedin a cam `groove 55 (Fig. 1) in a cam disk 56, fixed to .the

.drive shaft I8. Rotation of the cam disk 56 thus moves the pickercarriage up and down along the guide rod 36, while rotation of the camdisk 41 swings the lower end of the guide rod .and thus moves the pickerfrom front to rear.

In furtherance of the desired simplicity of conlstruction, the picker isarranged directly to contact the peripheral surface of a roll which dipsinto a body of gum in a gum box. The picker is moved along a pathtangential to the roll while in contact with the gum coated periphery ofthe roll, thereby turning the roll so as to keep its Vperipheral surfacesupplied with gum. Thus other roll-driving means is dispensed with andbut one element, to wit a single roll, is required for removing gum fromthe box and applying it to the picker.

The gum box 51 (Figs. l and 3) is supported within the frame above themagazine M. A gum- Iapplying roll 58 is journaled in bearings carried bythe box and is so arranged as to pick up gum from the box and apply itto the surfaces 32 of the picker as the latter is moved down intangential relation to the roll, as hereinafter more fully delivered tothe article to be labeled by means of a pneumatic transfer device or.applier 68 (Fig. 3). This applier 68 may be of a customary type,comprising suction pad 6| having therein suction orifices whichcommunicate with a chamber within a support 62 for the pad. This supportis carried by one arm-63' of a bell crank lever fulcrumed to turnv abouta transverse shaft 64 and having a second arm 65 which is pivotallyconnected at 66 to the upper arm of a yoke 61. The upper end of a link68 is arranged to slide in a guide bore in the lower arm of the yoke 61and is urged upwardly relatively to the yoke by a coil spring 69. Thelower end of the link 68 is arranged to slide in a guide bore in theupper arm 18 of a yoke 1|, being urged upwardly relatively to the latteryoke by a coil spring 12, the link having a limiting collar 13 at itslower end. The lower end of the yoke 1| is pivotally connected to theforward end of a lever 14 which is fulcrumed at its rear end on a shaftv15 carried by the frame, the lever 14 having a cam follower roll 16intermediate its ends which is received within a cam groove 11 (Fig. 5)in a cam disk 18 xed to the shaft l 8.

The arm 63 which supports the transfer device, carrier, or applier 60 isprovided with a bore communicating with a chamber in the part 62, and aflexible conduit 19 leads from this bore to a valve housing V at theintake of pump |5. x After, it has .deposited a label upon the article,

the transfer device or applier returns to receive another label from thepicker, and during this interval the label left resting upon the articleis firmly pressed against the article by a presser device 88. Thispresser device may be of conventional type, if desired, comprising a pad8|, usually of yieldable material and contoured to correspond to thecontour of the article to which the label is applied. This pad 8| iscarried by a rigid bar 82 which is supported to move up and down towardand away from the article rest 8 by means of a pair of rock arms 83 and84 which are pivotally connected to the bar 82 by spaced pivot pins 85and 86 respectively. The rear end of the arm 83 is fulcrurned on a pin81 carried by the machine frame. The arm 84 is longer than the arm 83and fulcrumed upon a pin 88, and has a rearwardly directed extension 89to which the upper end of a link 90 is adjustably united by a pin andslot connection at 9|.

The lower end of link 86 is arranged to slide vin a bore in the upperarm 92 of a yoke 93. It is urged upwardly, relatively to the yoke, by acoil spring S4 and has a limiting head or collar 95 at its lower end.The lower' end of yoke 93 is pivotally connected at 86 to the lower endof a lever 81 fulcrurned at its forward end on a pin 88 carried by theframe, and has a cam followerl roll |88 intermediate its ends which isreceived in a cam groove i8| (Fig. 9) in a cam disk |02 fixed to thedrive shaft.

A bracket 83 (Fig. 1) supports a horizontal transverse shaft |84 uponwhich is mounted a lever device having the arms |85, |86 and |81disposed substantially vat right angles to each other. The arm |65 isprovided with aI roll |88 which engages the edge of a cam |09 fixedrelatively to the lever 28 so as to be turned by actuation of saidlever, the cam having a concentric dwell or locking portion H8. The arm|86 carries a roll which is designed to engage a part carried by the arm63 which supports the transfer device or applier 68. The rear end of thearm |81 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a link H2 (Fig. 1)whose lower end is arranged to slidein a bore in the upper arm |3 -of ayoke ||4, the link being urged downwardly relatively to the yoke by acoil spring ||5. The lower end of the yoke is pivotally connected at |6to a lever |1 fulcrumed on a pin ||8 carried by the frame and having acam follower roll ||9 which is received in a cam groove |28 (Fig. 6) yin a cam disk |2| fixed to the shaft I8.

The sequence of operations of the machine in applying a label to anarticle issubstantially as follows, it being assumed that an article,for example a bottle B, has been placed in the articlereceiving cradleor support 3 in readiness to receive a label, and that the picker 38 isat the upper limit of its stroke.

Assuming that the machine is just starting into operation, havingpreviously been idle, it is desirable to have the machine performseveral idle cycles oi movement at the start in order that the pickermay be supplied with an adequate amount of adhesive before it attemptsto remove a label from the magazine. To permit such idle movement of themachine, the operator first raises the handle 29 thereby rocking thelever arm 26 (Fig. l) and moving the link 24 upwardly, thus swinging thelever arm 2| upwardly and by means f ofthe link 28 retracting themagazine M from its normal position. When in this rearward position thepicker may go through its normal 'cycle of operations without contactinga labeland thus vthe picker may be supplied with an adequate coating ofadhesive before it makes any attempt to remove a label from themagazine.

In thus swinging the arm 28 upwardly, 'the cam |09 is rotated so as topress the roll |08 downwardly thus swinging the arm ii to the rear sothat the roll i!! is no longer in position to hold the transfer deviceor applier 6U in the label transfer position. Since the spring 63 tendsto swing the transfer device rearwardly, the ree moval of the roll llifrom its normal position permits the applier to move slightly back awayfrom the picker path, so that the ,face of the a-pplier will not besmeared with adhesive. The dwell portion HD Oi the cam |99 serves toretain the parts in this abnormal position until the handle 28ispurposely moved downwardly again,

It will now be assumed that these preliminary operations, during whichthe picker has received a coating of adhesive, have been completed andthat the handle 28 has been restored to the position shown in Fig. 1.The picker carriage 34 is now moved downwardly by the link the guide 36being held in such a position by the link 38 that the adhesive-receivingsurfaces 32 of the picker plate move downwardly in a path which issubstantially tangent to the surface of the gum roll 5B. In thus movingpast the gum roll the surfaces 32 are supplied with a coating ofadhesive. As the picker plate passes below the gum f roll 58 and reachesthe lowest point in its path of travel, it is caused to dwell for ashort time while the link 3S is so actuated by the cam 41 as to swingthe lower end of the guide bar 36 to its most rearward position. Thismovement takes place while the picker is in registry with the forwardend of the label magazine and causes the adhesively coated surface 32 ofthe picker to contact the forward label in the magazine. When the labelhas been contacted by the gum surface 32 so as to adhere to the latter,the lower end of the guide bar 3S is swung forwardly by the action ofthe cam 41 and immediately thereafter the cam 56 causes the labelcarriage to move upwardly until it registers with the applier pad 6|which is now in its rearmost position, as shown in Fig. l. This upwardmovement of the picker carriage takes place in a path such that as thepicker moves upwardly past the gum roll 58, the label, which is adherentto the picker, does not contact the gum roll. When the picker carriagehas reached the upper end of its stroke with the picker in registry withthe applier pad 6|, the picker carriage dwells at this point, and theapplier pad 6l is moved forwardly by the roll I so that the labeladherent to the picker is caused to contact with the forward surface ofthe applierI pad 6|. At this instant control valves in a valve housing V(Fig. 4) of a type conventional in this art, are so manipulated, as toestablish suction at the suction orices of the applier pad 6| so thatthe label adheres to the pad more strongly than to the surfaces 32 ofthe picker. The applier 60 is now held in this position by the operationof the cams '|8 and l2 l, while the picker commences its next downstroke. The picker moves downwardly while still in contact with thelabel. This movement of the picker in a path parallel to the face of theapplier pad 6| and while the label is firmly attached to the applierpad, results in a uniform distribution of the adhesive over the surfaceof the label. If a picker such as that illustrated in Fig. 2e beemployed, the adhesive is first applied to the label in a series ofparallel stripes by means of the several spaced surfaces 32a of thepicker. By this means it is possible to apply just suiiicient adhesiveto the label, while insuring its uniform distribution, and withoutdanger of applying too much adhesive so that the adhesive will smearadjacent parts.

As soon as the picker carriage has descended far enough to clear thesuction pad 6| of the applier, the transfer device or applier, includingthe suction pad Si with the label adherent thereto, is swung downwardlyby the operation of the cam 1'8 until the adhesively coated surface ofthe label is brought into contact with the upper surface of the bottleB, the parts of this instant in the operation being arranged as in Fig.3, it being noted that at this time the picker carriage is in positionfor picking oir a new label from the magazine. It will thus be evidentthat the picker follows a substantially triangular path,

, the gumming station being located at that side of the path whichextends from the transfer point to the magazine.

Immediately after the label has been adhesively applied to the bottle,the suction at applier pad 6| is automatically broken and the applier 6Uis swung backwardly to its normal position. As soon as the applier hascleared the path of the presser pad 8|, the latter is moved downwardlyby the action of the cam |32 so as firmly to press the label against thebottle to insure smooth and uniform adhesion. The presser pad 8| is thenagain raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, so as to permit theapplier 60 to swing downwardly on the next cycle of operation.

While the picker guide 3B is herein specifically shown as pivoted toswing, it is obvious that an equivalent functional result could beobtained by mounting the guide 36 so as to move bodily, for example, ina direction perpendicular to its length in which case the path of thepicker would be generally rectangular instead of triangular. However,the pivotal arrangement is simpler and is to be preferred. Likewise, asis customary in the art, the picker guide 36 may be fixed and the gumbox and magazine so movable relatively to the fixed guide as to applygum to the picker and to bring the endmost label in the magazine intooperative contact with the picker, rather than to have the picker guidemove, all with substantially the same functional effect as thatdescribed, although the pivoted picker guide is preferred by reason ofits simplicity and to avoid practical dinlculties incident to the movingof the gum box and magazine, especially in high speed machines.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been illustrated byway of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadlyinclusive of any and all modications falling within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

l. A labeling machine having in combination a magazine. an adhesive typepicker for removing labels from the magazine, means guiding the pickerto move in a substantially rectilinear path, a pneumatic carrieroperative to remove the label from the picker by suction, and meansoperative to swing the carrier in an arcuate path to deliver the labelto a labelwapplying station.

2. A labeling machine having in combination a magazine, an adhesive typepicker for removing labels from the magazine, an elongate rigid guidefor the picker, means for moving the picker along the guide, a pneumaticcarrier operative by suction to remove the label from the picker, asWlnging arm supporting the carrier, and means for 9 swinging the arm todispose the label with its gummed surface in contact with an article tobe labeled.

3. A labeling machine comprising means for applying adhesive to onesurface of a label, means for holding the label stationary by itsungummed surface, and means for spreading the gum substantiallyuniformly over the first surface of the label.

4. A labeling machine having a label magazine, a single adhesive typepicker element of substantially the same size and shape as the label tobe applied, means for applying gum to the picker element, an applierhaving a label-contacting surface of substantially the same size andshape as the label to be applied, means for registering the contactsurface of the app-lier with the uncoated surface of a label adherent tothe picker element, and means operative to cause the labelpreferentially to adhere to the applier while separating the picker fromthe applicator.

5. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine and carries it to a transfer stationwhere it is transferred to an applier and wherein adhesive is suppliedto the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, andhaving a support for the article to be labeled, characterized in thatthe picker and the applier each has a label-contacting surface which isof substantially the same shape and size as the label to be applied, andin having means operative to dispose said surfaces, respectively, atopposite sides of and in contact with a label at the transfer station.

` 6. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label froma magazine and carries it to a transfer stationwhere it is transferred to an applier and wherein adhesive is suppliedto the picker on its way from the transfer station to the magazine, andhaving a support for the article to be labeled, characterized in thatthe picker has a single adhesivereceiving surface of substantially thesame size and shape as the label to be applied, the applier having alabel-contacting surface of approximately the same size, and means forregistering the label-contacting surfaces of the picker and applier withthe label interposed between them.

'7. A labeling machine comprising an adhesive type picker element and amagazine from which the picker withdraws labels one by one, a pneumaticcarrier, means operative to dispose the picker and carrier at oppositesides of and in registry with a label at a transfer station, meansoperative to cause the label to adhere more strongly to the carrier thanto the picker, and means operative to move the picker away from thetransfer station along a path substantially parallel to the plane of thelabel while leaving the label attached to the carrier.

8. A labeling machine comprising a rigid part having a substantiallyflat adhesive-receiving face, means for applying adhesive to said face,means for contacting the adhesively coated face of said part with oneside of a label, a carrier having a substantially at label-engagingsurface, means operative to bring said latter surface into contact withthe ungummed surface of the label, means operative to adhere the labelto the carrier, and means operative to move said rstnamed partrelatively to the label and in a plane substantially parallel to theplaneof the label so as to spread the gum uniformly over the label, andmeans for moving the carrier with the coated 10 surface of the labelexposed so as to convey the label to an applying station.

9. In a machine of the class described, an adhesive type picker having agum-receiving surface, means for applying adhesive to said surface,means for bringing the adhesively coated surface of the picker intocontact with a label. means operative to hold the label stationary byits ungummed surface, and means operative to spread the gumsubstantially uniformly over the picker-contacting surface of the labelwhile the label is so held.

1G. In a machine of the class described, an adhesive type picker havinga gum-receiving surface, means for applying gum to said surface, meansoperative to bring the coated surface of the picker into contact with alabel, means operative to hold the label stationary, and means operativeto slide the picker relatively to the label while the label is so held,thereby to spread the adhesive.

l1. In a labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coatedpicker removes a label from a magazine and carries it to a transferstation where it is transferred t0 a pneumatic applier, and whereinadhesive is supplied to the pickerI on its way from the transfer stationto the magazine, and having a support at the front of the machine forthe article to be labeled, an approximately vertical elongate guiderearward of the support for guiding the picker in its cycle ofmovements, the transfer station being above the level of the articlesupport, the magazine being below the level of the support and theadhesivesupplying means being so located that as the picker moves lfromthe transfer station to the magazine, it receives a supply of adhesive,and' means for actuating the picker.

12. A labeling machine of the kind in which4 an adhesively coated pickerremoves a, label from a magazine and delivers it to an applier at atransfer station, and having means for supplying adhesive to the pickerand means for moving the picker through a definite cycle, characterizedin that said picker-moving means comprises an elongate picker guidepivoted to swing about a xed axis, two driving cams, and parts actuatedby the cams to move the picker along said guide in a substantiallypolygonal path having the magazine at one angle and the transfer stationat another angle, and with the adhesive-supplying means adjacent to thatpart of said path which connects said angles'.

13. In a labeling machine of the kind in which an adhesively coatedpicker removes a label from a magazine and delivers it to an applier ata transfer station, an elongate guide along which the picker slides,means pivotally supporting the guide at one end, means for moving thepicker along the guide, and means for swinging the picker about itspivotal support.

14. In a labeling machine of the kind in which an adhesively coatedpicker removes a label from a magazine and delivers it to an applier ata transfer station, an elongate movable guide along picker, meanspivotally supporting the guide at a point adjacent to the transferstation, cam actuated means for moving the picker along the guider andcam actuated means operative to swing the guide, said cam actuated meansbeing so relatively arranged that the picker traverses a sub- Stantiallytriangular path having the transfer station and magazine at oppositeends of that side of the path at which the adhesive-supplying means islocated.

16. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to themagazine, characterized in having an elongate movable guide for thepicker,v cam actuated means for moving the picker along the guide, andcam actuated means for so moving the guide, said cam actuated meanslbeing so constructed and arranged as to cause the moving picker to passin adhesive-receiving relation to the adhesive-supplying means andthereafter to engage the coated surface of the picker with the endmostlabel in the magazine.

17. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its Way from the transfer station to themagazine, and a spring which tends to move the applier away from thetransfer station, characterized in having a movable stop normallypreventing movement of the applier by the spring and means operative atwill to make said stop inoperative, thereby to prevent operativeapproach of the picker and applier at the transfer station while themachine is in operation.

v18.` A labeling machine of the kind in which an adhesively coatedpicker removes a label from a magazine and delivers it to an applier ata transfer station, a guide for the picker, said guide being pivotedto.` swing about an axis adjacent to the transfer station, the guidebeing of a length toy provide a path for the picker extending from thetransfer station to the magazine, a gum roll for applying adhesive tothe picker, cam actuated means for moving the picker along said guide,and cam actuated means for swinging the guide, the means for moving theguide and picker being so constructed and arranged that as the pickermoves from the transfer station to the magazine it passes theadhesive-supplying means in operative relation to the latter and inreturning to the transfer station passes the adhesive-supplying meansout of operative relation to the latter.

19. A labeling machine of the kind in which labels held in a magazineare removed therefrom one after another by an adhesively coated' picker,transferred from the latter to a pneumatic ap plier, and applied by thelatter to the article to be labeled, and wherein a roller suppliesadhesive tothe label-engaging surface of the .picker and an elongatemovable rigid guide for the picker, characterized in having cam actuatedmeans for moving the guide and in having cam actuated means for movingthepicker along the guide, said cam actuated means being so constructedand related that the picker is moved in one direction along the guide intangential relation to the roller so as to receive adhesive from thelatter and then is contacted with the endmost label in the magazine andis then retracted from the magazine and moved back along the guide outof contact with the roller, and cam actuated means for moving theapplier into Contact with the ungummed surface of the label adherent tothe picker.

2G. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station Whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied, to the picker on its Way from the transfer station to themagazine, characterized in having cam operated applier actuating meansnormally operative to dispose the applier in label-transferring relationto the picker at the transfer station, means tending to preventoperative approach of the applier and picker while the picker continuesto perform its normal cycle of operations, and a manually controlledstop element normally positioned to insure OD- erative approach of theapplier and picker.

2l. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to themagazine, and in which continuously acting means causes the picker toperform its cycle of movements, characterized in that the magazine ismovable toward and from operative position, and in having link and levermeans normally operative to hold the magazine in its operative positionbut Constructed and arranged to move the magazine to inoperativeposition so as to prevent contact of the picker with a label in themagazine during a plurality of successive cycles of operation of themachine.

22. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated apickerremoves a label from a magazine and carries it to a transfer stationWhere it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to themagazine, and in which continuously acting means causes the picker toperform its cycle of movement, characterized in having manually actuablering'and lever means operative at will and while the picker continuesits cycle of movements, to move the magazine and applier out ofoperative relation to the picker path.

23. In a labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coatedpicker removes a label from a magazine and carries it to a transferstation where it is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and whereinadhesive is supplied to the picker on its way from the transfer stationto the magazine, an article support, and a movable label presser, adrive shaft having thereon cams for actuating the picker, applier andpresser, and means including yieldable connections for` transmittingmotion from the cams to the picker, presser and applier, respectively.

24. A labeling machine comprising means for applying adhesive to spaced'fractional portions of one surface of a label, means for holding thelabel stationary by its ungummed surface, means for spreading the gumsubstantially uniformly over the rst surface of the label, and means forbringing the gummed surface of the label into contact with the articledesigned to receive it.

25. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to themagazine,

asoasra Y characterized in that the picker is shaped so as initially toapply the adhesive to a fraction-al portion only of the surface of thelabel, means operative to cause the picker to dwell at the transferstation while the label is engaged by the applier, and means operativeto move the picker in sliding relation to the label thereby to spreadthe aclhesive over the entire surface of the label.

26. In a machine of the class described, an adhesion type picker whoseadhesive surface is divided into a series of spaced parallel narrowfaces, means for applying adhesive to said faces of the picker, andmeans operative to slide the picker relatively to a label contacting thepicker thereby to spread the adhesive deposited on the label by saidnarrow faces, so as to cover Isubstantially the entire label.

27. A labeling machine of the -kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to themagazine, characterized in that the picker has a series of spaced,parallel, elongate, adhesive-receiving faces all in the same plane, andmeans operative to move the picker relatively to the label while keepingsaid faces in contact with the label and in a direction perpendicular tothe lengths of said surfaces thereby to spread the adhesive uniformlyover the label.

28. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer stationwhereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to themagazin-e, characterized in that the adhesive-receiving face of thepicker is shaped to apply the adhesive to the label as a plurality ofparallel spaced stripes, and means operative to move the pickerrelatively to the label thereby to spread the adhesive to form asubstantially uniform coating upon the surface of the label.

29. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to themagazine, characterized in having picker-actuating means operative tocause the picker with a label adhering thereto to dwell at the transferstation, means operative to engage the pneumatic applier with theuncoated face of the label at the transfer station, and means operativeto slide the picker relatively to the label while the latter is heldstationary bythe applier thereby to spread the adhesive.

30. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station Whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the picker on its way from the transfer station to themagazine, characterized in having means operative to hold the pneumaticapplier stationary at the transfer station, and means operative to movethe picker in a path parallel to the label-engaging surface of theapplier while the label is held stationary by the latter, thereby tospread the adhesive evenly over the face of the label.

31. A labeling machine of the kind wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station Whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and

wherein adhesive is supplied to the picker on its4 way from the transferstation to the magazine, characterized in having means operative to movethe picker rel-atively to the label in a path parallel to the label andwhile in contact with the label,

thereby to spread the adhesive uniformly over the label.

32. A labeling machine of the kind .wherein an adhesively coated pickerremoves a label from a magazine, carries it to a transfer station whereit is transferred to a pneumatic applier, and wherein adhesive issupplied to the Dicker on its way from the transfer station to themagazine, and wherein the applier swings in an arcuate path,characterized in having means operative to hold the applier stationaryat the transfer Istation with its label-receiving surface parallel tothe adhesively coated surface of the picker, and means operative to movethe picker in a path parallel to the plane of the label whilefin contactwith the label and while the label is held stationary by the applier,thereby to spread the adhesive uniformly over the label.

33. A labeling machine including a roll whose peripheral surface iscoated with adhesive, a picker having an adhesive-receiving surface,means for moving the picker in a plane tangent to the roll so that thesurface of the picker substantially contacts the roll and receivesadhesive from the latter, means for moving the coated surface of thepicker into contact with a label so that the latter adheres to saidsurface, a pneumatic applier, means for moving the applier into registryand contact with the uncoated surface of the label, means for creatingsuction at the applier to cause the label firmly to adhere to thelatter, means for sliding the picker relatively to theapplier'substantially in the plane of the label and while in contactwith the latter, thereby to spread the adhesive, means for moving theapplicator with the pneumatically adherent label so as to contact thegummed surface of the label with the article intended to receive thelabel, means for breaking the suction at the applier, means forretracting the applier, and means for applying pressure to the label toinsure its adhesion to the article.

34. A labeling machine comprising a roll Whose peripheral surface isdesigned to receive fluid gum, means supplying gum to the roll, a pickerhaving a plurality of spaced gum-receiving faces,

means for moving the picker in a plane substantially tangent to the rollthereby to apply gum to the picker faces, means for moving the picker sothat its gummed faces contact and adhesivelyl hold a label, a pneumaticapplier, means for moving the picker and applier relatively thereby tocause the ungummed surface of the label to contact the applier, meanscreating a suction at the applier thereby to adhere the label to theapplier, means for moving the picker relatively to the applier,substantially in the plane of the label, thereby to spread the gum,means for moving the applier with the label adherent thereto so as todispose the gummed surface of the label in contact with the articledesigned to receive it, means for releasing the suction and forretracting the applier, and means for pressing the label against thearticle.

35. A labeling machine comprising a label magazine designed to hold aplurality of labels, a gum-applying roll, means for supplying gum to theroll, a picker, means for moving the picker along a path such that itreceives gum from the roll, means for moving the picker with its gummedsurface into registry with the label magaz'ne,l means. for advancing thepicker to cause its gummed surface to engage the endmost label in themagazine, means for retraeting the picker from the magazine with a labeladherent thereto and for moving it to a transfer station, a pneumaticapplier, means for so relatively moving the applicator and-picker at thetransfer station as to cause the ungummed surface of the label toContact the applier, means for creating suction at the applier to causethe label to adhere to the applier, means for moving the picker insliding relation tothe label held by the applier, thereby to spread thegum over the label, means for moving the applier with the adherent labelso as to Contact ther gummed surface oi the label with the articledesigned to receive the label, means for breaking the suction at theapplier and for retracting the applier, and means for applying pressureto`r the-label.

36. A labeling machine comprising a rigid part having a substantiallyilat adhesive-receiving face, means for applying adhesive to said face,means for contacting the adhesively coated face of said part with oneside of a label, a second part having a substantially flatlabel-engaging surface, means for bringing said surface of said latterpart into contact with the nngummed surface of the labeL, relativelymoving the label and the firstnamed part so as to spread the gumuniformly over the label, and means for conveying the label, with itsgunzmed surface exposed, to an applying station.

37. A labeling machine comprising a picker having a gum-receiving face,means providing a supply of iluid gum, means operative to move thepicker and gum supply so as to apply gum to the.

gum-receiving face of the picker, means for relatively moving the pickerand label to cause the label to adhere to the gummed face of the picker,a pneumatic applier, means for moving the applier and picker intoregistry, and so as to contact the ungummed surface of the label withthe applier, means for creating suction. at the applier to cause thelabel to adhere to the latter, means for moving the picker and applierrelatively and parallel to the plane of the label thereby to cause thepicker to spread the gum over the label, means for moving the applierwith the label pneumatically attached to it to a position such as tocontact the gummed Surface of the label with the article designed toreceive it, means for releasing the suction at the applier, means forretracting the applier thereby to leave the label on the article, andmeans for pressing the label against the article.

CARL HOLM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile othis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 597,858 Pettee Jan. 25, 1898808,955 Tucker Jan. 2, 1906 900,816 Woodland Oct. 13, 1908 1,143,968Jagenberg June 22, 1915 1,433,874 Cooper Oct. 31, 1922 2,414,019 CarterJan. 7, 1947

